5 Reasons Why You Should Go Backpacking With Your Family

After being confined at home for two years because of the pandemic, this is probably the year that you and your family go on that long-awaited vacation, possibly your first backpacking vacation.

Some of life’s most treasured memories are made on family vacations. Typically, vacations consist of staying at a resort and sleeping in luxury hotels. But this year, you can shake things up and try something new.

This article contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

To give you some inspiration, we recommend backpacking with your loved ones.

What is Backpacking?

The adventure and spontaneity of backpacking make it one of the best ways to see the world. Backpacking means traveling with only the things you can fit in a backpack; clothing, personal items, food, and outdoor gear. Backpacking is typically budget-friendly too.

Depending on the landscape you’re exploring, a backpacking trip can range from a leisure trip in the woods to a challenging hike to the summit of a mountain. The duration of a backpacking trip typically exceeds a single day and night, sometimes reaching several weeks. Backpacking trips tend to go off the usual route and away from local trails.

Why You Should Go Backpacking With Your Family

Here are the top benefits for those still on the fence about going family backpacking.

It Teaches the Family to Be Resourceful

In real life, so many people dwell on their weaknesses rather than their strengths, and as a result, they never reach their full potential. Therefore, when faced with an issue, it’s better to think of ways to fix it than just whining about it.

This is what backpacking teaches individuals. What is the first thing you do when you’re stumped on a problem? You fire up your browser and do a fast search. Our reliance on technology has become so pervasive that we no longer bother to devise creative answers to problems. However, you cannot count on having battery life or access to a network when you are outside.

The skills your loved ones acquire while hiking are invaluable, and while they may not need to know how to boil the water to make it suitable to drink when they return to their privileged lifestyles, it will give them the courage to be self-sufficient in other ways.

You can’t anticipate every scenario while out in the wild, so an outdoor trip can be incredibly risky. But consider the potential payoffs if you take the risk and make creative decisions with the family.

Related: See how these trekking poles changed the way I hike.

It’s Easy on the Wallet

Backpacking is more enjoyable and cost-effective than taking a week off work and checking into a local hotel. Furthermore, there are a lot of backpacker money-saving strategies that can be applied to a family’s budget.

Some examples include taking the time to learn enough of the local language to get by. Doing so will lower your risk of being taken advantage of by locals and allow you to understand people in your destinations. (Note: Rosetta Stone is one of the best programs we have used. You can learn unlimited languages with a lifetime membership for just $179. Great value!)

However, as a family, it’d be wise to wait until winter or early spring to buy backpacking equipment. Typically stores and websites hold end-of-season sales to make room for the incoming stock. You can find great deals on last season or discounted gear.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of first-order deals. Many online retailers provide discounts to new customers who make a purchase or sign up for their email list. Also, you can save money by purchasing used equipment, borrowing from friends, or renting gear for the whole family. REI stores offer members sharp discounts on used equipment and returns. REI also offers gear rentals.

However, suppose you want to give each member of your family premium backpacking gear for your first backpacking trip. In that case, you may want to consider taking out a loan to finance such a particular purchase.

You have the option of using credit cards or getting a payday loan. Payday loans are allowed in 37 states in the United States, and these states include four of CNBC’s top five best places to live in the United States: Vermont, Maine, Hawaii, North Dakota and Minnesota. Out of these five, Hawaii, North Dakota, and Minnesota are the only ones that have legitimized payday loans, making them good places to start looking for additional funding.

You might want to consider applying for CreditNinja payday loans as they provide the best deals. It’s easy and fast, so you can get the money the moment you need it.

In addition, the GPS in your phone can save you hundreds of dollars compared to navigation equipment. Most of the functions you’ll need when backpacking is probably already on your phone. Although I do find having trail maps downloaded to my phone helpful in case I lose cellular service. The AllTrails app Pro membership allowed for offline maps downloaded to your phone and many features helpful when hiking.

You Can Enjoy the Best Views

Only backpackers can experience some of the world’s most impressive and breathtaking landscapes. If you have ever considered backpacking in Nepal, you should read this article a trekking guide shared with us regarding the Trek Everest Base Camp from Lukla.

A fantastic method for reestablishing a connection with the natural world is to take in the breathtaking scenery, and natural wonders found outdoors. In addition, this presents an excellent opportunity to instill in younger children the value of treating the natural world with reverence.

Excellent Family Fun Time

When it comes to trips with the family, getting everyone together for quality time is one of the primary goals of these travels. A break from the hectic pace of everyday life is what you need to refresh and recharge your batteries.

The fact that you have a lot of time to communicate with one another on many hikes makes them ideal for this purpose. Many stretches will be manageable depending on the route. This implies that you’ll have the opportunity to talk with the family members or enter into more in-depth conversations, which are typically difficult to have at home.

Even more so, time spent in nature has improved interpersonal relationships by making people more empathetic, compassionate, and giving.

It’s Good for the Family’s Mental Health

Backpacking is a fantastic way to improve one’s health and well-being because of the combined effects of physical effort and time spent in nature. It improves not only your heart health but also your mental and physical well-being, your ability to be creative, and the quality of your interpersonal relationships.

Instead of the mental exhaustion that comes with living and working in a society where computers and cell phones are constant distractions, we can recover more quickly from digital fatigue when we stroll in a green space than when we walk in a city or along a street. Ultimately, spending time walking in nature has been shown to reduce anxiety and reflective thinking, which can contribute to depression.

Conclusion

You expand many more channels in your brain, body, and soul when you put on a pack and set off on an unfamiliar trail. It will be a tiring experience but remembering this adventure and the lessons it taught your family would be well worth the cost of the trip.